Electric clock system



NOV. 1, 1932. s KEINEN 1,886,107

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYSTEM Filed July 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV. 1, 1932. S, KEINEN 1,886,107

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYS TEM Filed July 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. l, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAUL KEILIEN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD ELECTRIC TIME COMPANY, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC CLOCK SYSTEM Application filed July 6,

This invention relates to electric clock systems in which impulses' are transmitted from a master clock or other control apparatus to secondary clocks (either of the ordinary indicating type or of the recording type as in time stamps) having electromagnets or other means for advancing the hands in response to the impulses, and particularly to systems in which the secondary hands'are advanced in direct response to the impulses rather than indirectly through a rewinder which stores energy derived from the impulses for driving the hands continuously.

Objects of the invention are to provide a system in which any one of the secondary clocks, if too fast or too slow, is corrected at predetermined intervals, as' for example at the end of each hourly cycle, automatically and without interference with the normal operati-on yof other secondary clocks in the system, in which the secondary clocks are automatically reset after interruption of current irrespective of the length of interruption within predetermined limits, which requires only a single circuit two wires or one wire and ground) between the control apparatus and the secondary clocks while permitting the use of a multiple circuit, if desired, which is simple and economical in construction and reliable and durable in use, and which is generally superior to prior systems of this character.

The invention is particularly, though not exclusively, applicable to control apparatus for transmittingY impulses of different characteristics (such as high and low voltage impulses or alternating current and direct current impulses or impulses which differ both in magnitude and also in kind of'current) and at different time intervals (such as once per hour and once per minute respectively) together with secondary clocks normally driven by one kind of impulses` and periodically synchronized by the other kind of impulses. While slow secondaries may be advanced to s'ynchronism in various ways, preferably a series of fast impulses are transmitted thereto during the period between the synchronizing or starting impulse and the next preceding normal or driving impulse,

1929. Serial No. 376,406.

thereby to bring any of the secondaries which may be slow into position to be started in synchronism with all the other secondaries when the starting impulse (of high voltage or alternating current or otherwise different) is transmitted.

By making the periods of time between the starting impulse and the first and last normal driving impulses substantially equal to the periods between succeeding normal impulses, the starting impulses and the driving impulses (other than said fast impulses) together constitute a series of regular impulses transmitted at constant predetermined time intervals throughout recurrent cycles (every minute throughout hourly cycles, e. g.) t-he starting impulse involving merely a change in the character (magnitude or kind of current) of impulse and constituting an altered driving impulse of the aforesaid regular series.

The secondary clocks are characterized by an electromagnet or other means for advancing the hands in response to the driving impulses (minute impulses in the aforesaid eX- ample) until'the hands reach predetermined positions (with the minute hands in the 6()- minute positions, e. g.) together with means for then rendering the aforesaid means ineffective further to advance the hands until a starting impulse (of different voltage or different kind of current) is received. If a secondary be slow, the aforesaid fast impulses also function as driving impulses just before the starting impulse initiates a new cycle or conditions the secondary clocks for a new cycle. The aforesaid means for rendering the secondary magnet ineffective may comprise means for increasing the reluctance of the magnetic circuit or the impedance of the electric circuit or a stop controlled by a second magnet, as disclosed in copending applications Serial N o. 341,176 and Serial No. 341,- 177, or other suitable means.

.For the purpose of illustrating the genus of the invention, a typical concrete embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which l is a front elevation of the master clock mechanism;

Fig, 2 is a plan view of the master clock mechanism Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; f y

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig.5 is asection on line 5--5 of Fig. and

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the entire system.

The particular mechanism` shown in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises a shaft 40 driven by suitable master clock mechanism which rotates gear 41 at constant speed, for example, one revolution per hour. This shaft also rotates the controller 6 (later to be referred to) at the same rate. Gear 41 drivespgear 43 through an intermediate gear 42, the gear 43 being fast to the shaft 44. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a second gear 45 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 44 in the rear of the gear 43 and intermediate the two gears is a clutch mechanism comprising a pin 46 extending through the shaft 44, a crossbar 47 fast to the gear 45, a crossbar 48 fast to a collar 49 sliding on the shaft and pins 50 fast in the crossbar 48 and sliding through openings in the crossbar 47, the collar 49 having recesses in its rearward face fitting over the pin 46 when the clutch is engaged by the spring 51` The clutch is disengaged by a bell crank 52 pivotally mounted at 53 and controlled by armature 54 of magnet C through arm 152, shaft 153 and arm 154 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). Thus, when the magnet C is energized, the clutch is disengaged and when the magnet is deenergized the clutch is engaged by spring 51' so that gear 45 rotates with shaft 44 and the gears 41 to 43 inclusive.

The gear 45 meshes with the gear 55 which, together with a smaller gear 56, loosely rotates on a stub shaft, the gear 55 meshing with gear 57 and the gear 56 meshing with the larger gear 58. The two gears 57 and 58 are coaxial but, as shown in Fig. 5, the gear 57 is fast to shaft59 whereas the gear 56 rotates freely on the shaft 59 and drives a gear 60 fast to a hub on the gear 58. 'lhe gear 60 drives gear 61 fast to shaft 62 which carries, on its forward end, a circuit closing arm 63 which, in the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, closes the circuit contacts 64 and 65. n

The shaft 59 not only carries gear 57 but also two ratchet wheels 66 and 67. The ratchet Wheel 66 is arranged to be driven by a pawl 68 actuated by an arm 69 pivoted on shaft 70 and carrying at its other end an armature 71 associated with magnet A. The arm 69 also carries a stop pin 72 which engages/ratchet wheel 67 near the end of each advance movement of the pawl 68 to prevent the pawl 68 from advancing the shaft 59 more than a distance corresponding to one tooth of each of the ratchet wheels every time the magnet A is energized. A stop pawl 73 is pivoted to the frame at 74 to engage the' is energized the master clock drives only the gears 41, 42 and 43 and shaft 44; and when the magneti() is deenergized theA master clock drives the contact controller 63 through the following train: gears 41, 42, 43` shaft 44, clutch 46, 49, gears 45, 55, 56, 58, 60, 61 and shaft 62, the controller 63 turning in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1). During such operation the ratchet wheels 66 and 67 and the shaft 59 are also turned backwards clockwise direction) inasmuch as the gear 57 fast on shaft 59 is interconnected with gear 45 through gear 55, the pawls 68 and 73 and the stop 72 being raised by arm 75 as aforesaid to permit such reverse movement of the ratchet wheels. When the magnet C is energized to disconnect the controller 63 fromthe master clock, the controller may be rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) through the medium of the ratchet wheel 66 by recurrent energization of the magnet A.

Referring now to Fig. 6, that part of the system which is disclosed in the above applications will first be described in a. general way. These parts comprise transformers, primary 13 and secondary 14, a relay 11 controlling circuit closer 8-9-10, a rectifier 15, secondary clocks S, each comprising a mag net D, a circuit closing arm 30, a switch 3l and a resistance 37, the aforesaid controller u, which has a raised portion 16 and depressions 19, 20 and 21 for controlling the circuit closer 3, an impulse transmitter 1 which preferably transmits impulses at the rate of one per miliute and another impulse transmitter 2 which preferably transmits impulses at the rate of one per second.

Since the operation of these parts of the system is fully described in the above applications, for-the purpose of this disclosure it may be briefly summarized as follows: The circuit closer 3 normally stands in neutral position, as shown in Fig. 6. heilig moved to the left to engage contact 76 when the. lugr 77 rides up on projection 16 and moving to the right to engage contact 78 when the lug 77 drops into any one of the three depressions 19, 20 and 2l. Normally the relay 7 is deenergized so that only half of the secondary 14 is connected across the rectifier 15 when the magnet 11 is energized, but when the relay 7 is energized to move contact 8 from conta-ct 9 to contact 10, the entire secondary 11 is connected across the rectifier 15 when the magnet 11 is energized. Thus the circuit closer 1 energizes relay 11 periodically (tor example, once per minute) momentarily to close circuit at 12, thereby to transmit impulses to the secondary clocks S. Normally these. impulses are ot low voltage (that is, half the voltage of the secondary 14) Three times per hour the impulses transmitted by relay 11 under the control oi the circuit closer 1 are of full voltage., inasmuch as the relay '7 lit'ts contact 8 to connect the rectilier lo across the entire secondary 14 cach time the lug 77 drops into one of the aforesaid recesses 19, 2() and :21.

The secondary clocks are constructed so that the switch S1 is moved to its lower posi tion to include the resistance 37 in circuit after the hour hand has made one complete revolution: and when the resistance $37 is thus included the magnet D is responsive only to the full voltage impulses. Thus, it.l a secondary clock completes an hourly c vcle bet'ore the master clock has completed its hourly cycle, they secondary clock stops until the lng 77 drops into the recess 1S) at the cnd of thc hourly cycle ofthe mastercloclt. Then when the full voltage impulse is transmitted. the secondary clock continues to advance, cutt ine out the resistance 37 so that it is then responsive. to the lower voltage impulses. As explained in the aforesaid applications, the recesses E and 21 are provided to transmit full voltage impulses at Btl-minuto interval.-; during each hourly cycle so that a secondary clock which fails to respond to the high-voltage impulse at the beginningotl the cycle wiil have two opportunities to ref-:tart before the beginning;r ot' the next hourly cycle. As also explained in they aforesaid applications the momentary closure ot the contacts3-76 when the lug 77 rides up on the projection 16 causes the fast impulse transmitter 2 rapidly to transmit impulses to the secondary cloclis, by rapidly energizing magnet. 11, just before the end of each hourly cycle, so that slow seconda-ries may be advanced to correct time at the end otl each hourly cycle.

According to this invention the aforesaid system is supplemented by the Jfollowing parts: A relay is connected across the rectifier 22 through conductor S1, door switch 82, Conductor 83, the aforesaid conductors G-i and G5, conductor S4, conductor S5 andronductor Sti. The aforesaid magnet C is connected in parallel with the magnet 80 and the contacts (3i- 65 through conductors 87 and 88. The relay 8() controls two circuit clos-ers 9() and 91., the latter connectingr the aforesaid magnet- A across the secondary cloclcline 92, through conductors 93 and 5)-1 when the magnet 8() is deenergized. The switch closes a lockingr circuit 95 for relay 80 when the latter is energized, and when deenergized the switch 90 closes circuit through 86-90--96-97-7-98-99 to enel'- gize the rel xy 7, thereby to connect the entire secondary 14 across the rectilier 15 during the time magnet St) is deenergized. The deenergization of magnet 80 also causes the switch 90 to close the following circuit: From one side. ot' rectifier 22 through conductor 8G, switch Slt), conductor 101, tast-impulse transmitter 2, conductor 1012, relay 11 and conductor 9S) to the other side of the rectifier 22. Thus duringy the time the relay 8() is deenergizcd high-voltage impulses of rapid fre,- quency are transmitted to the secondary clocks.

The operation of the system (except in so tar as already described in this and the aforesaid application) is as follows: Normally the magnets C and 80 are energized over the circuits above described, the yrelay St) beingy locked in circuit closing position through conductor 95. Thus the operation ot' that portion ot the system disclosed in the aforesaid applications is the same as there described; and the accumulator mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is inoperative for the reason that the energization of magnet C disconnects the accun'iulator mechanism from the master clock at the clutch 4t3--49 and the circuit of the magnet A is open at switch 91. However, when the supply of cnrrent to primary 13 is interrupted, the mag'- nets C and S0 are deenergized, the deenergization of magnet. 8() closing.,T the circuits 93--94, St--101 and Sti- 9G and also permitting the clutch L,t6-i9 to connect the master clock with the circuit controller G3 so that the controller (3B moves from the neutral circuit closing' position shown in Fig. 6 in a counterclockwise direction, and continues so to move so longas current is interrupted and the master clock continues to run. The time required for` a complete revolution ot' the controller 63 may oi course be adjusted to suit different conditions by adjusting the gear ratio between the master clock and the controller, but foi ordinary installations thc controller G3 may be arranged to malte one complete revolution in twenty-four hours.

lhen current is restored to the primary 13, the magnet C is immediately energized to disconnect the master clock from the controller G3 and to permit the pawls 68 and 73 to drop into operative relation with the ratchet wheels Go and 67 so that recurrent cncrgization ot magnet A will cause the controller t) to return to neutral position in a clockwise direction. However. the magnet 8() not energized when current is restored for the reason that its circuit is open at (Mr-65, and it therefore remains deenergized until the controller (3o has been restored to normal circuit-closing position. Thus, immediately after resumption of current relay 7 is energized to provide full-voltage impulses and magnet 11 is rapidly energized by the ast impulse transmitter 2 over the circuit;

22-99--11- 102 2 101 90 86 22, whereby high-voltage rapid impulses are transmitted to the secondary clocks, and also to magnet A which is connected across the secondary clock line 92, so that the secondary clocks are quickly corrected and the controller 63 is quickly returned to normal circuitclosing position, whereupon the magnet 80 1s again energized and the normal operatlon of the system continues, as described in the aforesaid applications, the same as though the accumulator mechanism of this invention were not provided.

WVhen the master clock case is opened and closed in resetting the master clock, the door switch 82 causes the accumulator mechanism to function the same as when the current is interrupted and restored, whereby the secondary clocks are automatically brought into synchronism with the master clock as reset.

If desired, the master clock may be automatically rewound by means of magnet 105 and a circuit closer 106 controlled by the master clock. The circuit closer may transmit infrequent impulses at regular intervals like 1; or it may be controlled by the condition of the main spring and transmit rapid impulses at infrequent intervals quickly to wind the spring only after it has largely unwound (e. g. once per da)T or week).

From the foregoing it will be evident that after cach current interruption the secondary clocks are automatically corrected by the accumulator mechanism irrespective of the length of the current interruption (Within the predetermined limits of the gear ratios between the master clock and the controller 63 which, as above pointed out, may be as large or small as desired). If the secondary clocks are not exactly corrected by the accumulator mechanism after a current interruption, the means described in the aforesaid applications for correcting fast or slow secondaries will soon bring the secondaries into accurate synchronism with the master clock. It will also be evident that the accumulator mechanism herein disclosed is normally inoperative, functioning only during current interruption and for a brief interval after the current interruption.

While this invention is particularly applicable to systems of the type disclosed in my aforesaid applications in which means are provided periodically to correct fast and slow secondaries, it will of course be understood that the invention may be used with plain impulse systems having no other corrective means, in which case the gear ratio to the controller 63 is preferably lower to increase the accuracy of correction after current interruption.

I claim l. An electric clock system comprising a master clock and secondary clocks controlled thereby, a line interconnecting the clocks, and

means at the master clock operative vafter interruption of current for effecting the transmission to said line of corrective impulses corresponding in number to the time of current interruption, including a controller normally disconnected from the master clock, means for advancing said controller during current interruption, and means responsive to said corrective impulses for returning the controller. toward said position while the secondaries are being corrected.

2. An electric clock system comprising a master clock and secondary clocks controlled thereby, a line interconnecting the clocks, and means at the master clock operative after interruption of current for eifecting the transmission to said line of corrective impulses corresponding in number to the time of current interruption, said last means including a stationary contact and a movable Contact normally engaging the fixed contact, means responsive to the master clock for advancing the movable Contact away from the fixed contact during current interruption, said last means being normally disconnected from the master clock, and means responsive to said corrective impulses for returning the movable contact toward the` fixed contact while the secondaries are being corrected.

3. An electric ,clock system comprising a master clock and secondary clocks controlled thereby, al line interconnecting the clocks, means at the master clock operative after interruption of current for effecting the transmission to said line of corrective impulses corresponding in number to the time of current interruption, including a controller normally standing in a fixed position, means for advancing said controller away from said position during current interruption, means responsive to said corrective impulses for returning the controller toward said position while the secondaries are being corrected, and means for automatically disconnecting said controller from the master clock and discontinuing the transmission of corrective impulses. f

4. An electric clock system comprising a master clock and secondary clocks controlled thereby, a line interconnecting the clocks, means connected to the master clock during interruption of current for elfe-:ting the transmission to said line, after current interruption, of corrective impulses corresponding in number to the time of current interruption, and means for automatically disconnecting said means from the master clock when current is resumed. i

5. An electric clock system comprising master and secondary clocks interconnected by a transmission line, and means including an electromagnet for automatically resetting the secondary clocks after current interruption,

'said electromagnet being responsive to im pulses transmitted from the master clock only during the resetting period.

6. An electric clock system comprisi master and secondary clocks interconnecte by a transmission line, and means including an electromagnet for automatically resetting the secondary clocks after current interruption, said means being responsive to the mnster clock only during current interruption and said electromagnet being responsive to impulses transmitted to the secondary clock only during the resetting period.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, this 29th day of June, 1929.

SAUL KEILIEN. 

